Alex Kaufmann, Author
Articles
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The Detroit Auto Show is only a couple of days away but if you can’t wait you can take a sneak peak at what’s in store thanks to the early release of many of the upcoming show cars. Most... -
Lamborghini Reventon now available on leaseIf you’re one of the legion of car fans out there who idolize Lamborghini’s Reventon but actually have the money to buy one and missed out on getting your name down for one of the twenty cars in production, you may be in luck because a car leasing company actually has one of the ultra...
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Lexus planning IS-F DTM entry?The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) race series is a tight and contentious one, populated solely by Mercedes-Benz and Audi since 2005. While the two-marque seasons have made for some very heated competition, the fans and the series itself would like to see another maker enter the fray. Lexus may...
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U.S. shows best annual fuel economy increase everGlobal warming concerns, urban pollution and the expected end of the petroleum fuel supply were closer to the forefront of American consciousness in 2007 than ever before. While changes to America’s highly automobile-dependent infrastructure are nearly as slow as those to the environment...
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Detroit’s Big 3 looking to diesel for efficiencyEurope has embraced diesel-fueled vehicles and their efficient - if not always clean-burning - ways for decades. While Americans were running around celebrating the 50mpg Prius, Europe was yawning, pointing at its fleet of diesels that easily match or exceed the Prius’ petroleum parsimony. So...
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‘Two more years’ for Toyota F1 success - bossTeam principal Tadashi Yamashina says he has been given two more years to deliver the goods for Toyota in formula one. The Japanese took the reigns of the struggling Cologne based team earlier this year, following a half decade of underperformance despite Toyota’s top annual budget...
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China’s burgeoning automotive industry has yet to make much of an impact in Europe or the U.S., aside from some of its makers infamously “borrowing” design details from their... -
Toyota wants you to buy 1 million hybrids - every yearHybrid-electric vehicles have been alternately portrayed as the saviours of modern transportation or the last gasp of the dying oil-based economy. Either way, Toyota has capitalized on their popularity with its world-beating Prius hybrid, and is aiming to increase the success of the hybrid further...
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Hartge Hunter - a tougher BMW X3BMW’s X3 mini-SUV has always been derided for its poor off-road performance, which is why German tuning company Hartge modified it to make it a true ‘Hunter’ off the road. A ground clearance of 23 cm is achieved by longer spring/damper units, additional front spacer blocks and a...
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Ford releases Focus RS teaserFord has confirmed plans to launch the high performance RS version of the recently revealed facelifted European Focus, which is set to arrive in 2009. This latest teaser hints at the styling direction the new model is taking, revealing an aggressive new bumper and flared wheel arches. The only...
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Diesel BMW X6 promotional video leaked onto webThe latest new model to roll off BMW’s production line was recently officially revealed - at least from the outside - but thanks to what appears to be an internal leak, we can bring you a look at the X6, uncovered and up close, inside and out. The example in the video appears to be a diesel...
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Toyota to save over $2.7B annually starting next yearToyota’s march to the top of the world’s sales lists continues and at the same time the Japanese mega-maker is looking to cut costs at every possible point. The savings will come from improved quality, reduced waste and human resources development in addition to their new “Value...
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As if the massive V8s from GM were short of power to start with, Aussie-based Walkinshaw Performance is making a Stage 2 supercharger that’ll pump an LS2 V8 up to 566hp (422kW) and 727Nm... -
James Bond to drive an Aston Martin DBS againAston Martin announced today that its new flagship model, the DBS, will once again be driven by James Bond in the next 007 film set for release in November next year. This is the same car used in the most recent Bond flick, Casino Royale, with actor Daniel Craig starring as the famous secret agent...
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Europe close to becoming world’s largest car marketRising sales in its Eastern and Central regions may soon see Europe emerge as the world’s largest car market, surpassing the U.S. possibly by the end of the year. The U.S. has traditionally led Europe by a wide margin but sales numbers so far this year differ by only several thousand units...
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2009 Mazda3 to preview carmaker’s new design trendThe facelifted version of the Mazda3 due next year will showcase the carmaker’s new styling direction that will eventually feature across Mazda’s entire lineup. The new look will be dominated by a stronger front-end with a distinctive five-point grille in the shape of a shield, fluid...
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Saab 9-3 wins IIHS Top Safety Pick AwardSaab has won the 2008 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick Award in the mid-sized category with its new 9-3. All models, including the Sport Sedan, SportCombi and convertible, picked up the prize. The Saab 9-3 performed well in both front and side crash tests and reflects...
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Chrysler expects $1.6B loss for ‘07Chrysler’s financial performance is even worse than first thought with latest reports claiming the carmaker’s loss could stand at $1.6 billion for the year. CEO Robert Nardelli has reportedly told a group of designers and engineers on Wednesday that company revenues will be less than...
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Turbocharging is quickly becoming the must-have technology for carmakers looking for proven methods of boosting the performance of an engine without bumping up displacement. Most diesel passenger... -
Nissan Forum concept interior sketcha href="http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1025818_nissan-forum-concept-interior-sketch Nissan has given us a preview of the interior of its upcoming Forum Concept car, scheduled to be displayed at next month’s Detroit Auto Show. The design focus for developers was to create a concept that...
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Video: Toyota simulator in actionToyota has created a life size driving simulator to analyze driver behavior under different conditions such as drowsiness or illness, and to help develop active safety technology for reducing the number of accidents. A real car sits inside the simulator dome, which features a 360-degree screen to...
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Volvo offering HD Radio on almost entire lineupVolvo announced today at the Boston International Auto Show it will be the first carmaker in the U.S. to offer digital HD Radio technology on almost all its models. HD Radio is a higher-quality AM/FM system with more channels, clearer sound and new data services. It will be available as standard on...
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TRC-Marangoni Fiat 5-0-0 SuperOne of the tuners at this year’s Essen Motor Show is Italy’s TRC-Marangoni, which has modified Fiat’s stylish 500 minicar and changed its name to the ‘5-0-0 Super’. The car has been given a striking red paint finish and a contrasting black hood to mimic Fiat’s...
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Volkswagen planning major platform changesTo reach its targeted production rate of ten million vehicles per year by 2018 Volkswagen will be implementing several major revisions to its current platform designs to help reduce development costs. VW is developing four new architectures that will eventually spawn vehicles for most of the VW...
Alex Kaufmann